After the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EU introduced restrictions on exports to Russia. Nevertheless, products from the Swedish company Kebnis' subsidiary have been delivered to Russia via a Turkish company, according to Dagens Arbete.
Kebnis' subsidiary manufactures satellites for civilian purposes, but these can also be used militarily.
Even if they are used for civilian purposes, they should not be exported to Russia, says Norwegian risk analyst Erlend Bollman Bjørtvedt to Ekot at Sveriges Radio.
He has examined loopholes in the sanctions against Russia and tells both Dagens Arbete and Ekot that it is a common setup for exports from the West to go via companies in Turkey.
According to Kebnis' sales manager Kristian Wallin, the company stopped delivering to Russian customers as early as 2021. The company also states that customer agreements prohibit export to a third country.
"If the goods have ended up in Russia via Turkey, which we have not been able to verify, it is clear that we did not know about it, as it violates the agreements we make with our customers. Had such confirmed information come to our attention, we would have immediately terminated the cooperation with the customer," writes Wallin to Dagens Arbete.
Kebni has decided to shut down the subsidiary that manufactures satellite antennas, according to Dagens Arbete.
